The second $18,700 Sires Stakes heat for two year old fillies was held at the Easter harness racing meeting at Addington Raceway last night and in a surprise upset for many on course, the very well performed Delightful Memphis lost her unbeaten record.
Driver Blair Orange was very bullish about the chances of Delightful Memphis prior to the race, stating he thought she had an edge over the four All Stars runners in the heat.
" On what I have seen around the trials and on raceday, I think Delightful Memphis has got an edge on the competition and should win," Blair said.
When Mark Purdon was going through the chances of his four runners in the heat on Trackside, he made the observation about how pleased he was with the run of Renske B at Invercargill when she ran second to Delightful Memphis.
" Renske B was parked the whole way at Invercargill with Delightful Memphis on her back."
" I thought if you switched the runs the two fillies got, that Renske B would have come out on top, Mark said.
And that is exactly what happened last night.
Flying Miss Mac and Dexter Dunn worked to the lead after 300 metres and that left Delightful Memphis facing the breeze, which she had to do for the whole race.
Hard on her back was Renske B and Tim Williams and as they turned for home, Tim eased her out and slowly but surely took ground off Delightful Memphis and grabbed her just short of the winning post for a memorable victory.
The margin of half a neck could have been a lot healthier if Renske B hadn't laid in badly a couple of times in the straight, costing her ground and momentum both times.
The daughter of Mach Three has been a model of consisitentcy throughout her brief racing career with last nights win her second from just four starts and along with two placings took her stake earnings over the $29,000 mark.
She paced the 1950 metres last night in 2:25.2, a mile rate of 1:59.9 with smart closing sectionals of 56.5 and 27.8
Delightful Memphis lost no friends in defeat with such a game effort while Smiley Sophie made a promising debut in running into third late.
At this stage there doesn't appear to be a lot between Delightful Memphis and Renske B and as last night race showed, it may be the draw that decides a lot of their clashes in the next few weeks.
Harnesslink Media